Newcastle best bets, inside mail for Monday, May 26, 2025

The Paul Snowden-trained followed a good first-up second with a dominate over this track and distance in heavy conditions and will prove hard to beat again. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL

Adam Sherry previews Newcastle on Monday.

Racenet and The Daily Telegraph form analyst Adam Sherry provides his best bets and race-by-race analysis for Newcastle on Monday.

The Form: Complete NSW Racing thoroughbred form, including video replays and all you need to know about every horse, jockey and trainer. Find a winner here!

NEWCASTLE

BEST BET

Race 6 No. 6: LUNAITE

Scored a big win here last start and hard to beat again.

NEXT BEST

Race 5 No. 6: LUNE D’EXCELLENCE

Not a lot of luck when held up when resuming. Has trialled very well on the heavy.

VALUE BET

Race 8 No. 1: DREAMDEEL

Rewarded for his consistent form with a win at Gosford last start. Good chance again.

QUADDIE

Race 5: 4, 6

Race 6: 6, 7, 8

Race 7: 1, 6, 7

Race 8: 1, 8, 9, 10

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Aaron Bullock is going to be popular in the TAB Jockey Challenge.

Aaron Bullock has a good book of rides at Newcastle. Picture: Getty Images

INSIDE MAIL – NEWCASTLE

RACE 1: VARLEY GROUP 3YO&UP MAIDEN HANDICAP 900m

PRATT (1) resumes from a spell for a new stable. Led all-the-way in his Beaumont trial on heavy ground on Apr 16 then under a hold when just caught late by Trounce in his May 7 heat. PERASTA (8) has been up for a while but worth thought on his third to Divine Bene on a Heavy 8 on the Beaumont two starts back. Drawn well. I’M OPINIONATED (7) placed on a Soft 7 at Dubbo last campaign. Just behind the placegetters in both runs back from a spell and at her peak now.

Bet: Pratt to win

RACE 2: CLICKK MIDWAY 2YO MAIDEN PLATE 900m

TYRONE’S POWER (3) eyeballed the leader and went to the front on straightening before finishing third to Regulated Affair at Warwick Farm second-up. DIVO (1) is a grandson of the Hall of Famer, Makybe Diva by Capitalist on debut. Led and cruised to a near two length win in his Apr 9 Scone trial. Sat outside the leader before going to the front near the 400m to win his Apr 24 Wyong trial on a heavy track. THE ROOKIE (10) will be improved by her first-up fourth to Yes Siree on the Heavy 10 at Wyong.

Bet: Tyrone’s Power to win

RACE 3: COASTAL ADVICE GROUP BENCHMARK 64 HANDICAP 900m

HAWKER HALL (5) travelled strongly in front when third behind Leantothemoon on debut as favourite at Hawkesbury on Oct 24. Resumed with a big all-the-way win on a Heavy 8 over this track and distance on Apr 23. Has since won a Beaumont trial impressively. ONE KIND (14) closing in on a win after three handy placings. Was trapped out very wide when a neck third to Dis Is Heaven at Tuncurry and caught deep again when a neck third to Are Ee Que at Wyong last start. Races well this track and distance.

Bet: Hawker Hall to win

RACE 4: DARREN FARRELLY MEMORIAL (HMF CUP) CUP CLASS 1 & MAIDEN PLATE 2200m

TRAPALANDA (2) battled away when fifth to Collect Your Cash at his Australian debut on the Kensington. Stepped up top Saturday grade when fifth to Asgoodassobergets at Gosford on Cup Day. At his peak now and won third-up in Ireland. TOMMY THUG (7) was a handy neck second to the in-form Shangri La Impact over 2000m at Hawkesbury last start. Place twice on the heavy including a third here three starts back. BEARINGS (8) scored her maiden win first-up at Goulburn before a fourth to Rotagilla on the Kensington.

Bet: Trapalanda to win

RACE 5: DAMAR MINYAK DF SUPER 3YO&UP MAIDEN PLATE 1400m

LUNE D’EXCELLENCE (6) was excellent coming from well back to finish a half-length second under a good hold to Pratt in his Apr 16 trial. Went back from a wide gate and was held up early in the straight when a two-and-a-half length fourth to Impressionism over 1300m here first-up. INVISIBLE MAGIC (4) ran much better than his $71 starting price when a length-and-a-quarter third to Hopper on debut at Warwick Farm. Will take improvement from the run. Anamoe’s half-sister BLUE WILLOW (3) has been okay on both runs.

Bet: Lune D’Excellence to win

RACE 6: AARON WALTER CENTURY 21 EDGEWORTH F&M BENCHMARK 64 HANDICAP 1250m

LUNAITE (6) was given a long spell after her debut seventh on the Kensington in March last year. Resumed with a two length second to Night Sky at Wyong on Apr 17 then scored a near four-and-a-half length win from Blue Willow on a Heavy 10 here last start. NAUGHTY NURSE (8) was narrowly beaten by Love Child first-up before winning at the Gold Coast. Worked to leaded from a wide gate and raced keenly when eighth at the Sunshine Coast last start. REDUCIO (7) can bounce back from a disappointing run last start.

Bet: Luinate to win

RACE 7: NEWCASTLE SKIN CHECK CG&E BENCHMARK 64 HANDICAP 1250m

FRENCH MARINE (6) didn’t have any luck first-up when he was held up in the straight and unable to be tested when a two-and-a-half length eighth to Executive Decision over 1100m at Wyong. Has two win and three seconds from seven starts second-up and is a winner at this track and trip. Likes it wet. MURAL CROWN (1) was okay when fifth to Cassiel first-up at Canterbury then raced flat when second last behind She Conquers at Kembla. Can bounce back. POCKET EIGHTS (7) is two from two on the heavy.

Bet: French Marine to win

RACE 8: FULTON HOGAN PROVINCIAL BENCHMARK 68 HANDICAP 1850m

DREAMDEEL (1) was just beaten by Peace Centre at Kembla and less than a length away when fourth to Alabama Fox at Hawkesbury before racing keenly in front and fading behind Fiftyficechevy here on Apr 12. Bounced back with a nose win at Gosford from Ocean Diva who has won since. BELLA KATHLEEN (9) scored a good win at her NSW debut in a Class 1 here before a second to Gentileschi in the Godolphin Tiara at Muswellbrook. Placed all four runs on the heavy. ELIVINA (8) is racing well and has claims.

Bet: Dreamdeel each-way